“When the inmate died, there was an investigation. That's where this information came up,” he said. “The investigation caused us to ask more questions.”

In February, the sheriff's office sent their case accusing Flores of tampering with a governmental record to the Bexar County District Attorney's office, which is now investigating.

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Taylor had been wanted on three misdemeanor warrants for drug possession and driving while intoxicated when he turned himself in last summer, officials said. While in a cell with other inmates, he became disruptive and was moved to an isolation cell, said then-sheriff's office spokesman Louis Antu.

Around 2 a.m. on Aug. 22, Taylor was found dead, face down in his cell. According to the Bexar County medical examiner's office, he died of methadone toxicity and cardiomyopathy, and his death was ruled an accident. Herberg said that during the investigation officials noticed video footage of the corridor near Taylor's cell didn't show Flores checking on the inmate at the times stated on the log.

“These at-risk inmates are required to be sight-checked every 25 to 30 minutes,” Herberg said, “and the allegation is that the jailer falsified the record to say he did that.”

It was not clear if the cell check that Flores allegedly lied about would have had an impact on his death. Herberg said the office continues to mull a possible indictment for tampering with a governmental record, a third-degree felony. So far, no criminal charges have been filed.

The incident isn't the first time jail guards have come under scrutiny for failing to check inmates who later died. In 2009, five inmates committed suicide, prompting Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz to request a study by a national expert. Two of the five hadn't been properly screened, expert Lindsay Hayes determined, and staff was disciplined and trained on jail procedures.

Berry said he couldn't speak to incidents under Ortiz's watch, but said Sheriff Susan Pamerleau “has made it clear that all proper procedures are to be followed.”

Since she took office in January, two inmates have died in jail: Antonio Obregon, 32, died after he possibly fell in a general population unit Feb. 2; Alvin Boyd County, 66, died after he was found in medical distress Feb. 28.

The medical examiner's office said the causes of both Obregon's and County's deaths are still pending.